Proportional counter



May 2, 1950 J. A. SIMPSON, JR 2,505,919

PRoPoRTIoNAL COUNTER Filed Dec. 51, 1946 ma M pff/@Fhig- Patented May 2, 1950 PROPORTIONAL COUNTER John A. Simpson, Jr., Chicago, Ill., assignor to the United States of America as represented by the Atomic Energy Commission Application December 31, 1946, Serial No. 719,526 16 Claims. (Cl. Z50-27.5)

This invention pertains to an improved proportional counter for the detection and measurement of alpha particle emission. More specically, the invention pertains to a proportional counter adapted to detect and measure contamination of beakers, bottles, and like containers by radioactive materials which emit alpha particles such as, for example, plutonium.

' Certain radioactive materials such as plutonium are very dangerous if received into the body. It is desirable in installations such as laboratories where such materials are handled to make frequent surveys for detection of contamination of various articles in the laboratories by such substances. Also, from a chemical point of view, it is necessary that beakers and like devices be checked before use to be certain that no such contamination remains from previous use of the container. The only practical method for detecting such contamination in minute quantities is the detection of the alpha particles emitted therefrom.

The present inventor has in his copending application, Serial No. 719,525, led in the United States Patent Ofce on December 3l, 1946, disclosed a novel proportional counter which is particularly well adapted for making contamination surveys in such places as laboratories. The device described in the above application is, however, not adapted to be inserted as a probe into such places as beakers, bottles or other spaces having similar contours.

It is, therefore, the principal purpose of the present invention to provide a proportional counter which is adapted to be inserted as a probe into small cavities, and more particularly into beakers and similar containers.

For understanding of the invention, reference is made to the drawing in which Fig. 1 is a plan view of a proportional counter beaker probe;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal cross sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 in the direction indicated by arrows:

Fig. 3 is an end view of the counter probe of Fig. 1 with a metal screen which constitutes a portion thereof partially broken away;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a support rod shown in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is a transverse cross sectional view of a support rod assembly taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 2 in the direction indicated by arrows.

1 f- Referring first to Figs. 1 end za tubular eenducting housing I8, for example'ofialuminum, has at one end thereof a conducting cap l2 secured thereto by radial screws I4. To the cap I2 is fastened a flange I6 of a conventional coaxial cable connector I8 having a center conductor 20, an insulator 22, preferably of polystyrene, and a threaded shield 24 which is integral with the flange I6. To the end of the center conductor 20 within the housing I8 is soldered one end of a flexible wire 26, the other end of which is soldered to a support rod 28, for example of brass. The support rod 28 extends through an axial bore in a cylindrical polystyrene insulator 30, which has an outside diameter adapted to fit slidably within the housing I8. The polystyrene insulator 30 preferably has deep annular grooves 32 at both ends thereof in order to maximize the length of the surface-leakage path between the support rod 28 and the housing i0.

Imbedded in the insulator 38, for example by a forced fit, is a short peg 34, for example of Bakelite, which protrudes through a longitudinal slot 38 in the housing I0. The peg 34 thus serves as a thumb-catch for moving the insulator 30 longitudinally within the housing I0. Mounted upon the support rod 23 are collars 38, for example of brass, which are fixed in position on support rod 28 by set screws 40, the collars 38 maintaining pressure against the insulator 38 at both ends thereof so as to retain the support rod 28 rmly in position with respect to the insulator 3U.

The end portion of the support rod 28 is milled so as to have a fiat surface as shown more clearly in Figs. 4 and 5. A plate 42 is mounted on the flat surface. As illustrated in Fig. 4, which is an enlarged view of the end portion of the rod 28 with the plate 42 removed, the flattened end has therein two transverse bores 44 threaded to receive small screws. Grooves 46 are milled. into the ilat surface to form a V having its axis on the axis of the rod 28. Lying within the grooves 46 are the two ends of an anode wire 48. As is well known, the anode wire of a proportional counter must be extremely small in diameter. The wire 48 may be, for example, of 1 mi] tungsten. Upon the flattened end of the rod 28 is the clamping plate 42 secured by screws 52 which are screwed. into the threaded apertures 44. The clamping plate 42 thus clamps the ends of the wire 48 into the grooves 45, which are of a depth slightly smaller than the diameter of the wire 48.

The above mounting for the anode wire 48, illustrated in detail in Figs. i and 5, offers great advantage in uniform assembly of counters suchA as that illustrated, and in ready replacement of -the anode wire 48. Anod'e wires 48 of such s-mall diameters as above mentioned cannot conveniently be bent into reproducible forms which may be expected to retain the shape into which they were originally bent. The most satisfactory method for producing uniform shaping of such wires is the use of prestraightened wires and the mounting of the ends in predetermined orienta tion. By the use of such prestraightened wires of accuratelyfmeasured equality in length with the mounting arrangement illustrated in the drawing, it has been found that the anode wire 48 may be readily replaced without introducing any substantial differences in the operating characteristics of the counter.

Over the end of the housing lo adjacent the anode wire 48 is a tight-tting ring Sil having a shoulder portion 62 internally thereof. Stretched across the ring 60 and fastened to the shoulder portion 62, for example by cement, is a thin sheet window t4 of a material readily permeable to alpha particles. The window 6a may-'f be made, for example, of nylon 0.2 mil in thickness. On the inner surface of the window Sfisra'fthin coating, for example of graphite (not visible in the drawing) rendering the inner surn face of the window, which makes contact with the-housing- I at the edges thereof. conducting.

OverY the window Ell is a coarse wire mesh screen itfsecuredy tothe outer-surface oi the ring 6D, for example by spoty welding. The screen B serves to protectthe fragile window 513 against breakage. l

It is-de'si'rable that -all parts be iinely machined t small tolerances in order to prevent the'entance of dust.l However, it is not desirable that anyf'oil or grease be allowed to remain on the inner surfaces between the various connecting parts because the counter is designedto have as the'filling thereof airA at atmospheric pressure. Itha-s been found that even with the finest ci machining, sufficient leakage exists between the interior and exterior so'that no substantial pressure'differential can appear across the window 64;` Such a pressure differential might, if it were allowed to exist, cause rupture of the window.

The anode wire'd, which is thus in the form ofa'loop in a plane' normal to the window 6d is closer tothe window 64 rthan it is to the housing l0. Therefore, ther electric eldswhich are created by" impressing a potential between the housing Ill and the anodeI wire 48 by means of the connector I8 are much greater between the anode Wire and the window 54, which is at the same potential as the housing lil, than they are between the anode wire' 48 and the housing it. Thet active' region 'of the counter-is, therefore, oonfinedto thatA portion Vnear thefwindow.- AS isf Well known, the operating voltage of the counter is aiiected by the spacing between the anodel and theY cathode'.V In the counter-illustrated in the drawing, adjustment of the oper ating-'voltage may be made by moving the anode lla-"with respect to the Window 64, which is the eifective portion of the cathode, by means ofthe pe'g134 which moves in ftheslot 35. Thisy feature oi'ers great advantage in that'small differ-v enceswliichmay occur in assembling-large numhersoflthe counters may be compensated by adu justment of the position of the anode wire 48 so that all counters operate at the samevoltage. Thisv makes it unnecessary to performcalibrationfprocedures upon substitution of `one counter -prebe'ifor another,- andlikewise makes possible the 'us' of-the counterprobes withA voltage sup- .plies`r` which *are* not readily Vvsi'zsceptible -of varia-1 vtibri'i The counter probe illustrated in the drawing may be made with a large variety of dimensions. As one example, the housing I0 may be 1 inch in diameter and 6 inches in length; the support rod 23 may be 1A inch in diameter and 4 inches in length; and the insulator 3l)` may be 1% inches long. The wire screen 66 is preferably of nickel, which is readily cleaned. The above dimensions are well suited for surveying such surfaces as laboratory containers, drinking glasses, etc. The counter probe may be made in much smaller dimensions. For example, it may be made sum,- ciently small in diameter to be readily inserted into the human nose in order to measure the amount of deposition of such substances as plutonium onv the interior of the nasal passage. For sanitary purposes, the window 64 may cover the'entire end of the counter probe thus inserted and may be readily replaceable so that a new window may be used on each individual subject to such examination.

Many adaptations ofY the teachings of this invention other than the precise embodimentof the drawing described above will occur to persons skilled in the art. As obvious examples, the orientation of the anode with respect tothe cathode, the adjustabiuty of the anode-cathode spacing, and the mounting arrangement which allows ready replacement of the anode wire, may

easily be adapted to devices other than the one.

illustrated. The scope of the invention should, therefore, be deemed to be limited only by.v the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A radiation counter comprising, in combination, a tubular cathode having over an end 'there-` of a conducting window permeable to charged particles, a red-like conducting member insulatl ingly supported axially of the cathode, an anode comprsing a loop of wire mounted on theend of the rod-like member adjacent to the window in a plane normal to the plane of the window, and means for moving the rod-like Ymember lon# gitudinally so as to change the spacing between the anode and theV cathode.

A radiation counter comprising, in combina#- tion, a tubular cathode having over an end there; of a conducting window permeable to charged particles, a substantally cylindrical'V insulator adapted to fit sli-:lably into the tubular cathode, and being longitudinally adjustable in position therein, a rod-like conducting member supported axially of the cathode by the insulator, and an anode comprising aloop of wire mountedon the end of the rod-like member adjacent to the win-l gow in a'plane normal to the plane ofthe win;

3. A radiation counter' comprising, in-combination, a cathode having at least a portion thereof composed of a conducting window permeablefto charged particles, a conducting anode-support member within the cathode and insulatedthere; from, an anode comprising a loopof wire lrnounted on the anode-support member adjacent tothe window in a plane'normal to theplane ofthe window; and means formovingthe anode-supe port memberso as to. changethe spacing-between the anode and the cathode'.

4. In a radiation counter, in combination, atm bulareiectrode'having a plane portion at anend thereof vand a second electrode, the secondelea-V troc-.e lcomprising a loop 'of wire supportedrsb; stantially at one 'point-'the plane'orthe'loopibfng normaleto vthe plane portionY of lthe firstelectrode.'v

5; In' a radiationv counter, in--combinationt substantially tubular first electrode having a conducting surface over an end thereof and a second electrode, the second electrode comprising a loop of wire supported substantially at one point, the plane of the loop being movable with respect to the conducting surface.

6. In a radiation counter, in combination, a tubular electrode having a plane portion at an end thereof and a second electrode, the second electrode comprising a loop of wire lying in a plane 11* normal to the plane portion of the first electrode.

1. In a radiation counter, a plurality of electrodes, at least one cf said electrodes comprising a loop of wire having both ends at the same electrical potential and another of said electrodes comprising a membrane permeable to alpha particles, the first electrode being adjacent the membrane in a plane normal to the membrane.

8. In a radiation counter, in combination, a substantially tubular rst electrode having a conducting surface over an end thereof and a second electrode, the second electrode comprising a loop of wire supported substantially at one point.

9. A proportional counter comprising, in combination, a substantially cylindrical cathode having at an end thereof a window having a conducting coating permeable to alpha particles, an anode insulatingly supported within said cathode, an ionizing medium comprising air at atmospheric pressure, a cable connector mounted on the opposite end of the cylindrical electrode, and conducting means including a flexible Wire connecting the anode and the cable connector.

10. A proportional counter comprising, in combination, a substantially tubular electrode having at an end thereof a window having a conducting coating permeable to alpha particles, a second electrode insulatingly supported within said rst electrode, an ionizing medium within said rst electrode comprising air at atmospheric pressure,

a cable connector mounted on the opposite end of the tubular electrode, and conducting means including a flexible wire connecting the second electrode to the cable connector.

l1. In a radiation counter, in combination, a substantially tubular rst electrode having a conducting surface permeable to alpha particles over an end thereof and a second electrode, the second electrode comprising a loop of wire supported substantially at one point, the plane of the loop being normal to the plane of said surface.

12. In a radiation counter, in combination, a substantially tubular first electrode having a conducting surface over an end thereof and a second electrode, the second electrode comprising a loop of wire supported substantially at one point, the plane of the loop being normal to the conducting surface.

13. In a radiation counter, in combination, an outer electrode having side and end portions and having a longitudinal slot in the side portion, an insulating member abutting against the inner surface of the outer electrode and longitudinally slideable thereupon, a peg member aiXed to the insulating member and protruding outwardly through the slot, and an inner electrode spaced from the end portion of the outer electrode and supported by the insulating member, whereby the spacing between the electrodes may be adjusted by adjusting the longitudinal position of the peg member within the slot.

14. In a radiation counter, in combination, a tubular electrode having a conducting member over the end thereof and having a longitudinal slot in the side thereof, an insulating member abutting against the inner surfaces of the tubular electrode and longitudinally slideable therein, a peg aixed to the insulating member and pro truding outwardly through the slot, and an inner electrode within the tubular electrode spaced from the end member and supported by the insulating member, whereby the spacing between the inner electrode and the end member may be adjusted by adjusting the longitudinal position of the peg within the slot.

15. In a radiation counter, in combination, an outer electrode having side and end portions, an insulating member abutting against the inner surface of the outer electrode and longitudinally slideable thereupon, and an inner electrode spaced from the end portion of the outer electrode and supported by the insulating member, whereby the spacing between the electrodes may be adjusted by adjusting the longitudinal position of the insulating member.

16. In a radiation counter, in combination, an anode member, a cathode member and an insulating support maintaining the electrode members in spaced relationship, the support being slideable with respect to at least one of the electrode members in the direction of the shortest distance therebetween, so that the spacing between the electrode members may be adjusted.

JOI-IN A. SIMPSON, J'R.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 758,971 Jordan May 3, 1904 1,677,000 Moore July 10, 1928 2,305,188 Nowcke Dec. 15, 1942 2,368,486 Mullane Jan. 30, 1945 OTHER REFERENCES Geiger and Mller, Physikalische Zeitschrift, vol. 30, Aug. 15, 1929, pp. 489-493.

Korir, Electron and Nuclear Counters, D. Van Nostrand Co., Apr. 1946, pp. -77 and 80-83.

Strajman, article in Review of Scientific Instruments, vol. 17, June 1946, pp. 232-234. 

